It’s the end of an era but, typically, Scottish football fans have been thinking about their pockets as much as Pique and Pedro.

Andy Johnston, East Kilbride, said: “I put £40 on Spain at 7-1 at the start of the tournament and the only sweat I’ve had on this past week is sitting in the garden sunbathing. I can’t believe how far they’ve fallen.”

Allan McGaw, Alloa, said: “The fall of mighty Spain has been a shock. The bookies must have made a fortune.”

Tony Turner, Glenrothes, said: “I read the bookies moaning in Record Sport the other day about having the shirts ripped from their backs by the punters at Ascot.

“All I can say is they’ll be wearing their designer threads again after the departure of Spain from the World Cup. They must have made a fortune.”

Jim Easton, Leith, said: “It has been painful to watch the decline of Spain. At club level, Barcelona also look a team going out of style.

“I know Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid contested the Champions League Final but the evidence suggests it’s time now for another country to rise to prominence.”

Ross McEwan, Stirling, said: “I’m off to Benidorm next Sunday and was looking forward to a few beers, a bit of tapas and cheering on Spain all the way to the Final. Now I’ll have to listen to my missus and sister-in-law yacking in my ear instead.

“I wonder if there are any last-minute deals available to Germany or Italy?”

Hotline callers are split on the quality of the action they have seen so far from Brazil.

James Garvie, Broxburn, said: “The goals by Tim Cahill and Robin van Persie have been the highlight of the World Cup so far. However, some of the games I’ve watched have been a bit iffy.”

John McLaren, Dunfermline, said: “I admire the way most teams have committed to attack. Holland have been a joy to watch so far, followed by Costa Rica and Chile.”

There are no Scottish referees at the World Cup but Bill Chapman, Dumbarton, still has a point to make about the boys in, erm, yellow.

He said: “There are at least five teams at the World Cup who wear yellow or gold shirts and too often they clash with the kit worn by officials. Why don’t referees return to good old black?”

SFA chief executive Stewart Regan has been lamenting the fact Croatia kicked off the tournament against Brazil, rather than qualifying group opponents Scotland.

Jim Connor, Elgin, said: “I told my 10-year-old daughter we hadn’t qualified for a major finals for 16 years and she immediately said, ‘It’s because we don’t practise enough dad’. She hit the nail right on the head. It’s not rocket science.”

Thomas Gordon, Aberdeen, said: “I read Regan’s comments and immediately thought Scotland are going with the same old three up front again – coulda, woulda and shoulda.”

Finally, the fixture list for the new season has just been released as many of our clubs prepare to return for pre-season training.

David Gray, London, said: “The new season fixtures look exciting. However, the Championship appears to have become the Premiership and the Premiership looks a bit like a pub league.”

Alan Innes, Coatbridge, said: “What a state our game is in when the Championship fixtures are more of a talking point than the Premiership.

“The sooner Rangers, Hearts and Hibs are all back in the top flight of the game the sooner we can start to attract decent sponsors and television deals again.

“Who knows we might even develop a team good enough to play at the World Cup finals.”